Sewage disposal equipment



March 13, 1951 J. O'DONNELL SEWAGE DISPOSAL EQUIPMENT Filed June 19,1948 JAMES O DONNELL mvmvron A TTORNE Y.

Patented. Mar. 13, 1951 SEWAGE DISPOSAL EQUIPMENT James ODonnell. LosAngeles, Calif. Application June 19, 1948, Serial N 0. 34,075

My invention relates to equipment for the treatment of sewage and waste,particularly from human habitations, and has for its general object toprovide simple permanently installed and low cost equipment by means ofwhich waste water from the kitchen sinks as well as sewage from thetoilets and dirty bath water from the bathrooms of one or more dwellingunits may be treated without the use of any chemicals to make itsuitable for irrigation use or if not required for such use, may be runoff through any usual channels in a clear odorless and harmless flow.

In many areas of the United States and other countries the pollution ofwater bearing soil in which wells are sunk or of streams, lakes, andocean into which waste from human habitations is commonly dumped hascaused serious damage, or risk thereof, not only to human beings butalso to wild life such as fish and shell fish which are likely to bekilled or become dangerous as food, unless such waste liquids arethoroughly treated by sewage disposal systems. Suchsysterns, however,are often inadequate, faulty in operation, or entirely dispensed withespecially 'in impoverished areas.

In addition to the dangers caused by improper disposal of sewage thereare many areas which, while otherwise suited to settlement andagriculture, are poorly supplied with water, and it is important that nowastage of water should be allowed, yet large quantities of water are atpres.- ent wasted in the form of sewage which by the use of my inventioncould be utilized for water- 7 ing land.

It is an object of my invention to provide sewage conversion equipmentwhich may be ini stalled adjacent and to serve one or more dwellings ata cost much less than that of providing *the usual sewers and sewagedisposal systems vegetation from household sewage, which requires littlemaintenance and supervision and is simple and long wearing inconstruction.

, A still further object of my invention is to provide a disposal systemby which the waste water from dwellings as well as their sewage isrendered into irrigation water or may be disposed of in the ground orrun into bodies of .water without danger ofcontamination of ground '7Claims. (Cl. 210-43) Water or of contaminating the body of water intowhich it is discharged.

lowing specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingswhich illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is tobe understood that various changes and modifications of parts may bemade by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of theinvention as defined by' the appended claims.

' In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the installation of my invention with coversremoved to show the interior arrangement;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the equipment;

Fig. 3 is a detail elevational view of a syphon forming part of myinstallation, as seen looking in the direction of the arrows 3 in Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing in front elevation a one-way valvecontrolling one inlet'in my apparatus; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the valve shown in Fig. 4.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the numeral H) indicates generally a pair oftanks which, while they maybe separate, are preferably formed in asingle rectangular casing l2 by a partition !4 extending across thecasing. I

One tank I6 receives the sewage from the toilets of the dwelling whilethe other tank is receives water from the bathtubs and wash basins andalso the discharge from the kitchen sinks, the grease trap being assumedto be positioned in the discharge line ahead of its inlet into tank I8.

Although both tanks are formed in one casing, I prefer to form tank [8of'greater height than tank it as shown in Fig. 2, and to provide eachtank with a lid or cover 20 and 22 shown as extending across the fullwidth of the tanks though obviously the tanks may be formed with topwalls with covered manholes provided therein. The

3 tank covers are removable but of gas-tight construction. 7

Turning now to the specific description of tank IS, an inlet pipe 24from the household toilets extends into the tank and is provided with adownturned inlet end arranged to be submerged after the first fewdischarges through pipe 24, some distance below the level of the liquidin said tank by level maintaining means later described. A receivingtrap 26 is arranged toward the top of the tank on spaced supportingbrackets 28 which may be welded to the inside of tank [6. The trap isprovided with an imperforate bottom 30 and vertical sides 32 spacedslightly from the wall of tank l6 around the entire periphery of thetrap. A line of relatively smallopenings 34 through the wall of thereceptacle extends all around the receptacle toward the bottom thereof.The purpose of the trap is to maintain all solids contained in thesewage'at the upper portion of t here deeoihheeit oh w t resultant htakes place. The solids remain on the surface when eeei ed en b eak Asmell emohht s nks t the bo to o e t a bu bre k u d rises as gases areformed therein as a result of deo ihiee itioa he resultant iq i escapinginto the ank throu h t r at v ly sm o e n s and flowing downwardlybetween. the walls of the ree in r the as eh. e eepe hire .6. i arra edeh io ly wit t o r; then eiid edieeeh the t om f e ents he es ehd htoward hroi sh a ve t trough 38 formed n the wall of the trap and W? tiuli i Th' sa een end offthe pipe 36 is passed through the wall of thetank It; into tank [8 at a h iehtflth ie t ens r tha the outlet e d opipe is always immersed, thus preventing gases o e om s ti w i l et abothe o en toe t eh i-f oth h etih nt he n e P he. Yo ihi o ee t he tr ateii tank It w l det m he tse te ite th rew he sh ing an arrangementsuitable for an average dwelling. If the sewage from a hotel or camp isto be t at d. the ank it. ou d. b ma e lon the e era arra ement o her ets r main ng h sameh-owev'er'. The simple construction of my se age. t ement qui me t ehehl e. tank of varied capacity to be readily produced totreat the emohh o ewa e to h e e r the e' ht e lar ty e of a itationbeing s r Tank l8"i'sprovilde d with a floating trap 40 havin e w" im 4h r ei n e fluids di eh'e 'ed tem h t ttt Th P r ose o th floating'tr'apis to maintain all sewage solids cont ned i h e H 91% p 24 n h Z of mostactive bacterial decomposition and by providing the relatively shallowfloating receptacle, any solids that may sink to the bottom of the e a hby ehemieel e eter e- 2Q tiQ in h fih ht me l eno to h gases to thesurface and r -hte e ee o h oee d in the sludge floating on the surfaceand taking place under the heat developed by the putrefaction thereof. Ihave found this action to be so vigorous th t no appreciable, if any,solids of non-decomposable character are floated out of small orifices44. arranged as a continuous series just below the upper edge of thefloating receptacle arid are so small that they work down between thewall oi the trap 40' and the wall of the tank {8 and collect in thefunnel 46 arranged at the .bQttQIu of the tank from which they may be.iihs d from at to t me b u w ng e p 48 fitted into a threaded vent 50.The plug or any other suitable type of valve, is operated by a rod 52passing through a vertical tube 54 welded or otherwise secured in fluidtight relation to the bottom of the trap. The construction of thiselement of my invention is fully disclosed in Patent No. 2,420,326,issued to me May 13, 19 17 to which reference may be had for furtherdetails. In the drawings I have shown additional floatation means fortrap 40 in the form or a metal sphere 58 welded to the vertical tube,supplementary buoyancy being provided since in addition to the dischargefrom tank 16, tank I8 receives household waste water from the bathtubs,wash basins, and kitchen sinks of the dwellings serviced.

The household waste water after traversing the usual grease trap fittedto household sewers is discharged into tank 18 by inlet pipe 58, shownin detail in Fig. 5. The inlet pipe discharges ab t e en im of tr p 0 thou h. a flap valve 6t ed o the nd of he i e and, o me a e pl hin edat'it ton to he r p a fittin against. the r dl loloed end o t e pe. erran m n of fla a e 0 ensu es that e we te wat oo how ea i nto h n athat the al e i l, by s We t ec e y Close the en of the ri e a a nsentry f; ase rom. the w en n o en y t e ast w tter When ve ater is ho flw n f m he pipe.

T e level o sewa ind tre t e t tea 8 i maintained hr the s ph h 6;?tohst ue a sh wn. n h s 3, hi h. is a ran ed vertieelly o t de ten s s hs ea n thei t r or th teak ent r ree to t e ver ca m e nt of e le nthan.

In prod in e ipment. i a er size ha th a e a e size fo e s hele iomi yhou l t a ed i h d awi s. pr er to ih e e the vert c l e h of. t hlt"3;. rathe than i s i me er- It is o e i. de etood that he ank m e m def: suitable mater a e. h e eh ei es ehed to he mad o qelii r ia redwoowhich I have found to be particularly long last-- 1% h n t tties soi Wheh on. oo rod s t ual iron. e ti. whereas r wood w est me i ihies teaserin sound. condi ion.

I preierable that tank 18 be not less than e n he h h t en took i thou hit. i immaterial how much higher it is than tank I6 thus enabling thecover 22 to be positioned at ground levelto facilitate operation of rod52 when required while enabling the tanks to befinstalled at a levelsuch that the liquidlevel therein is below the depth of penetration offrost into the ground.

a I claim:

1. Sewage treatment apparatus comprising: a first tank and a secondtank; a trap in and'extending across substantially'the whole area ofeach tank, each trap havingan open top, an im perforate bottom andimperfor ate sides except for a series of small holes extending threughsaid sides intermediate the top' and bottom thereof; an inlet pipe.discharging sewage into the trap in the first tank below the level ofthe contents of the trap; an overflow pipe. leading efiiuent from apoint adjacent the bottom of said. first tank into the second tank to apoint above the trap in said second tank; a pipe delivering waste waterinto said second tank above the trap in said second tank; outlet valvemeans fitted to. said waste water pipe and effective to prevent theentry of gas from the second tan into said pipe; means eiiective todischarge liquid from the second tank when a predetermined level hasbeen reached therein; means enabling undissolved particles accumulated0n the bottom of said second tank to be removed; and means forstationarily supporting the trap of the first'tank in position near thetop of said first tank while the trap of the second tank is buoyantlysupported therein. Sewage treatment apparatus comprising: a

first vertical tank into which sewage is discharged; a fixed trapsupported in the upper portion of said tank and having an open upperside, imperforate bottom, and side walls imperforate except for a seriesor" small openings extending around and through the side wallsintermediate the top and bottom of the trap, the upper edge of said trapclosely fitting with the wall of the tank while the side wall of thetrap below the upper edge is spaced from the wall of the tank; an inletpipe for sewage extending into said tank above the trap and opening intoa trap below the level of sewage held therein; an overflow pipeextending from a point adjacent the bottom of-said tank to a heightabove the level of said inlet pipe and leading the effluent from saidsewage through the wall of said tank; a second vertical tank into whichwaste water is discharged for treatment;

a second trap in said second tank having an open upper side, imperforatebottom, and imperforate side walls, except for a series of smallopenings extending around and through the side wall of the second trapintermediate the top and bottom of said walls, the walls of said trapbeing closely adjacent the wall of the tank, the everfiow pipedischarging into said second trap an inlet pipe for waste waterdischarging into said second trap; means for automatically dischargingliquid from said second tank when the level of liquid therein exceeds apredetermined level;

means for removing any accumulation of undissolved particles from thebottom of said second tank; and removable gastight closure means for thetop of both tanks.

3. Sewage treatment apparatus comprising: a first tank and a secondtank; traps respectively, fixedly and buoyantly mounted in said tanksand extending across substantially the whole areas of thetanks, eachtrap having an open top, imperforate bottom, and imperforate sidesexcept for a series of small holes extending through said sidesintermediate the top and bottom thereof; brackets supporting the trap ofthe first tank in position; flotation means effective to support thetrap of the second tank in the surface of the liquid contained therein;an inlet pipe discharging sewage into the trap in the first tank belowthe level of the contents of the trap; an overflow pipe leading efiluentfrom adjacent the bottom of said first tank into the second tank abovethe trap in said' second tank; a pipe de-, livering waste water intosaid second tank above the trap in said second tank; outlet valve meansfitted to said waste water pipe and effective to prevent the entry ofgas from the second tank into said pipe; means efiective to dischargeliquid from the second tank when a predetermined level has been reachedtherein; means enabling undissolved particles accumulated on the bottomof said second tank to be removed; and a removable gastight closuremeans for both said tanks.

4. Sewage treatment apparatus comprising: a first tank and a secondtank; traps in said tanks extending across substantially the whole areasof the tanks, each trap having an open top, imperforate bottom andimperforate sides except in the first tank, and near the top of the trapin the second tank; an inlet pipe discharging sewage into the trap inthe first tank below the level of the contents of the trap; an overflowpipe leading eillu'ent from adjacent the bottom of said first tank intothe second tank above the trap in said second tank; a pipe deliveringwaste water into said second tank above the trap in said second tank;outlet valve means fitted to said waste water pipe and effective toprevent the entry of gas from'the second tank into said pipe; meanseiTective to discharge liquid from the second tank when a predeterminedlevel has been reached therein; means enabling undissolved particlesaccumulated on the bottom of said second tank to be removed; and aremovable gastight closure means for both of said tanks,

5. Sewage treatment apparatus comprising: a first tank and a secondtank; a trap in each tank extending across substantially the whole areaof the tank, each trap having an open top, imperforate bottom andimperforate sides except for a series of small holes extending throughsaid sides intermediate the top and bottom thereof; an inlet pipedischarging sewage into the trap in the first tank below the level ofthe contents of the trap; an overflow pipe leading efiiuent fromadjacent the bottom of said first tank into the second tank above thetrap in said second tank; a pipe delivering waste water into said secondtank above the trap in said second tank; outlet valve means fitted tosaid waste water pipe and efiective to prevent the entry of gas from thesecond tank into said pipe; a syphon arranged outside said second tankand having its inlet end communicating with the interior of the secondtank toward the bottom thereof and effective to discharge liquid fromthe second tank when a predetermined level has been reached therein;means enabling undissolved particles accumulated on the bottom of saidsecond tank to be removed; and a removable gastight closure means forboth said tanks.

6. Sewage treatment equipment comprising: a first vertical tank, a trapclosely fitting within the upper portion of said tank and having animperforate bottom and sides except for small holes extending throughthe latter intermediate the height thereof; means supporting the trap infixed position in the first tank, conduit means for discharging sewageinto said trap below the level of sewage held therein; a gastightremovable closure for the top of said tank; an overflow pipe leadingeiiluent from adjacent the bottom 'of said tank through the wall thereofat a level above the opening of said sewage inlet pipe; a secondvertical tank into which waste water is discharged; a second trapbuoyantly supported in said second tank, the efiluent from the firsttank discharging from said overflow pipe into said second trap, saidsecond trap having an open upper i uid, rem le $1 1 Mee e e 91 he le emt ienqi 'v i le nf e 1 e peg fo ate bqttom an 51 esexceptfbr all holesextending thrdu gh the letter iritr'inedite. the lgeigm; fiherepffeqlgdult inens: 'fpi'I'd iech'eig ing sewage into said trap belmjw} thelevel inf sewage he h i e ee ht" r m l blefi r' T the top of said iloverfievfpiia leeldlij'g efiluent 10m adjece rit the 'bofit, in difg'seid tnk theough tlne will the1 e 0'ff at e, evel' afigixie the 9f Said sevqe gje inlet, pipg? aI'seedhd' vertic el-t k" an iiiltplpe f5:delivering wh's lie water into said secencl tmk, Said waste water P ehem-ling downwardly arid eufiwardly enqfa 'p late hihgdet it s iifiper'end to t l m eftp eithe vkzaete''vizat rinlet pipeend' and me ting (111'the inclinedend of the pipe'to permit fies exit of waste water; pum preverit entiy of ra ssffzem the Sec n'd tank infib said pipe; 3sectrapfiheeid seebn d t ank', the efilu enffrom we we W };v a d e p, ea te Water pipe diechargifi into said eeepnd triap', said seepnd162111351 di'eeheiif i irig liqu dfmfii said see nd'tank hen; e were wel rlenj ee l i det'ermined level; meeins f or, removing any. undis- Thefollowing. references are of. record in the file of this patent:

